NYC Democratic Socialists Back Pro-Korea Summit, Stirring Controversy
It’s unlikely that Kim Jong Un is a regular voter in the U.S. Though, perhaps he might find camaraderie with some liberal arts types in Brooklyn.
The Democratic Socialist of America (DSA) in New York recently endorsed the “Summit for the People of Korea,” which, interestingly enough, promotes unity under Kim Jong Un’s regime. According to the New York Post, this event took place at a church in Harlem from July 25 to 27.
One of the notable figures linked to the NYC-DSA is democratic mayoral hopeful Zoran Mamdani, who hadn’t commented on the group’s support for the event as of early Wednesday.
“What do you say to Chinese and Korean immigrants in New York who escaped oppressive regimes?” asked political strategist Hank Shenkop in an interview with the New York Post.
“What message does this send to those who fled similar regimes? Supporting Mamdani could lead to really troubling outcomes for us,” he added.
This situation takes a rather unusual turn, as foreign policy enters the spotlight in the upcoming U.S. mayoral race. It’s a bit bewildering, especially when so many pressing local issues remain unaddressed. At the very least, discussions about unifying Korea might be a refreshing change from the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian debates.
Mamdani appears to have a strong chance in the general election, boasting a positive reputation among voters. Recent polling by Zenith Research indicated he leads by a significant margin. This survey, conducted from July 16 to 24, included 1,453 registered voters in New York City and carries a margin of error of about 2.9 percentage points.
When matched against opponents, Mamdani is ahead by double digits, including against incumbent Eric Adams, who is now running as an independent. Polls show 70% of NYC voters are unhappy with the current state of affairs, with a notable 54% strongly disapproving of Adams’s performance.
Polling from Slingshot Strategy reveals Mamdani’s support among 35% of registered voters in early July. This survey sampled 1,036 voters, with a margin of error around 4.2 percentage points.
Voter sentiment can shift dramatically due to different polling methods, which raises questions about Mamdani’s coalition potentially alienating Asian voters.
During a recent event, one speaker, Brian Becker, spoke against the ongoing vilification of North Korea. Another from the Palestinian youth movement emphasized solidarity against U.S. imperialism shared by both Palestinians and North Koreans.
This presents a somewhat skewed view, with some DSA members denouncing Trump’s policies while seemingly overlooking the nature of North Korea’s leadership.
